What is Mercury Retrograde & How Does it Affect us?
I thought I would write about Mercury Retrograde as it as something many of you have heard about but maybe don’t know exactly what it means or how it potentially affects our lives.
The term ‘retrograde’ comes from the fact that the planet appears to be moving backwards as all planets do (apart from the sun and moon).
Mercury retrograde happens a few times in a year and usually lasts about three weeks, though its influence can also be felt in the shadow period both two weeks before and after it.
The term ‘retrograde’ comes from the fact that the planet appears to be moving backwards as all planets do (apart from the sun and moon).
Mercury retrograde happens a few times in a year and usually lasts about three weeks, though its influence can also be felt in the shadow period both two weeks before and after it.
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2023 Mercury Retrograde Dates23 August 2023 – 15 September 2023 (Virgo)
13 December 2023 – January 1, 2024 (Sagittarius) 2024 Mercury Retrograde DatesApril 1 - April 25 (starts in Aries, ends in Taurus)
August 4 – August 28 (starts in Leo, ends in Virgo) November 25 – December 15 (Sagittarius) 2025 Mercury Retrograde DatesMarch 14 2025 – April 7, 2025 (starts in Aries, ends in Pisces)
July 17 2025 – August 11, 2025 (Leo) November 9 2025 – November 29, 2025 (starts in Sagittarius, ends in Scorpio) |
How Does Mercury Retrograde Affect us?
Forewarned is forearmed when it comes to this planetary influence.
When mercury is retrograde, it is known to signify a period of miscommunication, tech glitch and mishap.
Computers freeze and play up, mechanics and appliances breakdown. travel plans go wrong and things are lost in the mail. There are potentially mix ups, delays, errors, glitches, confusion and general chaos. There are blocks, delays and is generally a slow moving energy.
So why does this happen? Mercury is the planet of communication, so when it is the opposite of forward moving, then things quite literally feel backwards. Sounds great, yeah? It can be very frustrating to say the least. Pay attention to see what the retrograde brings for you! And try not to lose your cool.
When mercury is retrograde, it is known to signify a period of miscommunication, tech glitch and mishap.
Computers freeze and play up, mechanics and appliances breakdown. travel plans go wrong and things are lost in the mail. There are potentially mix ups, delays, errors, glitches, confusion and general chaos. There are blocks, delays and is generally a slow moving energy.
So why does this happen? Mercury is the planet of communication, so when it is the opposite of forward moving, then things quite literally feel backwards. Sounds great, yeah? It can be very frustrating to say the least. Pay attention to see what the retrograde brings for you! And try not to lose your cool.
Here's an anecdotal example. Funnily enough, at the time of writing this article, it was the very first day of the first retrograde for 2013. My car cut out and I lost complete control of the steering wheel and brakes, and almost drove into a church’s office windows.
can laugh about it now but I was pretty shaken up, upset and frustrated at the time and it made my day at work extremely difficult and stressful. This was followed by the added hassle of organizing a toy truck and putting the car in for service/repair!
can laugh about it now but I was pretty shaken up, upset and frustrated at the time and it made my day at work extremely difficult and stressful. This was followed by the added hassle of organizing a toy truck and putting the car in for service/repair!
During Mercury Retrograde, it is not recommended to make any major decisions, start big projects, sign any contracts, form strict deadlines or begin something new during a retrograde period.
However it is a good time to look over details, recheck things, revise, re-organize and repair. Things might come up to re-evaluate or re-do.
I usually use this time to go over anything that needs fine-tuning, or pretty much what I consider to be behind the scenes ball-breaking or even repetitive work.
Note that your thinking processes might be in retrograde and at a slower pace.
A side note about communication: Something lost might re-appear, and people might also re-enter your life. Perhaps you'll bang into someone you have unfinished business or karma with, or hear from them out of the blue.
However it is a good time to look over details, recheck things, revise, re-organize and repair. Things might come up to re-evaluate or re-do.
I usually use this time to go over anything that needs fine-tuning, or pretty much what I consider to be behind the scenes ball-breaking or even repetitive work.
Note that your thinking processes might be in retrograde and at a slower pace.
A side note about communication: Something lost might re-appear, and people might also re-enter your life. Perhaps you'll bang into someone you have unfinished business or karma with, or hear from them out of the blue.
The Shadow Periods of Mercury Retrograde
The Pre-Shadow Phase of Mercury Retrograde
The pre-shadow phase of Mercury Retrograde is the two weeks leading up to it. This is a time to start to be conscious of the retrograde's looming, upcoming presence and work to wind things up.
Get ready to peel back the layers. You will see that things naturally seem to come up for review and finalization. See how you notice this occurring in your life. You will probably get a natural urge to get things done, complete unfinished business, including lists and projects and tie up loose ends.
Watch out for errors, miscalculations and various forms of miscommunication with friends, family members, work peeps and companies you deal with. Old communication issues will also start to be pulled up from under the surface to look at and resolve.
Get ready to peel back the layers. You will see that things naturally seem to come up for review and finalization. See how you notice this occurring in your life. You will probably get a natural urge to get things done, complete unfinished business, including lists and projects and tie up loose ends.
Watch out for errors, miscalculations and various forms of miscommunication with friends, family members, work peeps and companies you deal with. Old communication issues will also start to be pulled up from under the surface to look at and resolve.
The Post-Shadow Phase of Mercury Retrograde
The post-shadow phase of Mercury Retrograde is the two weeks after it, and it can sometimes feel like an aftermath period until it passes. It might feel like things are a bit slow to pick up. You'll be relieved when its all over.
Watch this Video of How Mercury Retrograde Affect us
The Positive Side of Mercury Retrograde
Let’s now focus on the positive aspects of Mercury Retrograde.
It is a great time to rest, recover, reflect and reconnect with oneself and others. Relax, incubate, read, journal, be creative.
It is the perfect reminder for us to slow down, breathe and not take things so seriously. It is asking us to reflect on our inner world and listen to our intuition.
If you are observant and open at this time, you will notice a heightened spiritual awareness and you may receive revelations and experience synchronicity connected with fated events.
It is a great time to rest, recover, reflect and reconnect with oneself and others. Relax, incubate, read, journal, be creative.
It is the perfect reminder for us to slow down, breathe and not take things so seriously. It is asking us to reflect on our inner world and listen to our intuition.
If you are observant and open at this time, you will notice a heightened spiritual awareness and you may receive revelations and experience synchronicity connected with fated events.
Pay Attention to the Sign Mercury Retrograde is in
Each Mercury Retrograde will be in a particular star sign, and the traits of that zodiacal sign will add further energy to the time period and make a difference as to how you might experience it. For example when Mercury Retrograde is in Scorpio, it will most likely be more intense.
In order to maximise the energy, it is a good idea to use the energy of the astrology sign in which it is in for your own benefit and healing growth which will help you experience the period in a higher way, and potentially later lead you to better movement forward.
So for example if Mercury is Retrograde in the star sign Aries, use the active warrior, doer and leadership qualities of Aries to make revisions and get things done. If it is in Pisces, tap more into your dreamy, intuitive side in order to enhance your reflections and allow in some powerful revelations. Watch out that things don't get too confusing or dishy washy.
In order to maximise the energy, it is a good idea to use the energy of the astrology sign in which it is in for your own benefit and healing growth which will help you experience the period in a higher way, and potentially later lead you to better movement forward.
So for example if Mercury is Retrograde in the star sign Aries, use the active warrior, doer and leadership qualities of Aries to make revisions and get things done. If it is in Pisces, tap more into your dreamy, intuitive side in order to enhance your reflections and allow in some powerful revelations. Watch out that things don't get too confusing or dishy washy.
Other Tips to Survive & Thrive During Mercury Retrograde
- Avoid signing contracts
- Read small print carefully
- Triple check information
- Clean up any loose ends
- Back up your computer data in advance
- Try not to start anything new
- Be prepared for changes in travel plans
- Be prepared to get in touch with someone in your past
- Research ideas
- Prepare for miscommunications – if you know in advance to not take things people say personally, you will be better for it, so take a back stance.
- Revamp, redo, re-examine unfinished, old or pending projects
- ‘RE’ everything, ie all the 're' words are perfect in this period. For example re-view, re-do, re-vise, re-organise, re-vamp, re-examine, re-kindle, reflect and so on.
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